25 Facts About Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak, known as, was an Indian spiritual teacher, mystic and poet, who is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.

Guru Nanak's birthday is celebrated as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, annually across India.

Guru Nanak was born into the Khatri Punjabi clan like all of the Sikh gurus.

Gurbilas Patashahi 6, written 1718, attributed to Bhai Mani Singh contradicts Mani Singh's Janamsakhi as it instead says Guru Nanak was born on the full moon of Katak.

The Sikh records state that Guru Nanak died on the 10th day of the Asauj month of Samvat 1596, at the age of 70 years, 5 months, and 7 days.

Gurbilas Patashahi 6 written 1718 attributed to Bhai Mani Singh says Guru Nanak was born on the full moon of Katak.

Meham Parkash written in 1776 says Guru Nanak was born on the full moon of Katak.

Kesar Singh Chibber's Bansavalinama Dasan Patashahia Ka meaning genealogy of the ten emperors, written in 1769, says Guru Nanak was born on the full moon of Katak as well.

Gurpurnali written in 1727 and Guru Nanak Tegh Bahadur Malwe da Safar written in 1716 both mention Guru Nanak Nanank being born on the full moon of Katak.

Nanak Chandrodaya Sanskrit Janamsakhi from 1797 and Janam Sakhi Baba Nanak by Sant Das Chibber from the 18th century both mention Guru Nanak being born on the full moon of katak.

Gurpur Parkash Granth written by Sant Ren Singh based on a granth written by Binod Singh states Guru Nanak was born on the full moon of Katak.

For instance, at the age of five, Guru Nanak is said to have voiced interest in divine subjects.

Notable lore recounts that, as a child, Guru Nanak astonished his teacher by describing the implicit symbolism of the first letter of the alphabet, resembling the mathematical version of one, as denoting the unity or oneness of God.

Guru Nanak moved to Sultanpur, and started working at the modikhana around the age of 16.

The followers of Guru Nanak were called Kartaris by others.

Nanak appointed Bhai Lehna as the successor Guru, renaming him as Guru Angad, meaning "one's very own" or "part of you".

The earliest biographical sources on Guru Nanak's life recognised today are the janamsakhis, which recount the circumstances of his birth in extended detail.

The second theory states that Nanak was a Guru, not a prophet.

Guru Nanak is not an incarnation of God, not even a prophet.

The third theory is that Guru Nanak is the incarnation of God.

The Guru is God, and God is the Guru, O Nanak; there is no difference between the two, O Siblings of Destiny.

Guru Nanak described living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" as being higher than the metaphysical truth.

Guru Nanak is highly influential amongst Punjabi Hindus and Sindhi Hindus, the majority of whom follow Nanakpanthi teachings.

Guru Nanak's teachings were the Bon of Relative and Absolute Truth.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community consider Guru Nanak to have been a Muslim saint and that Sikhism derived from Sufism.